I have a toothache. What should I do?

If you are suffering from a toothache, you should contact your dentist right away to book an appointment. Our East Calgary dentists explain what to do until your appointment.

A toothache can be extremely painful, and you probably don’t need to be told to contact your dentist right away if you are experiencing one!

There are several different factors that could cause a tooth to become painful. These include:

Tooth decay

Abscessed tooth

Infected nerve

Damaged dental work

Teeth grinding

Infections in the mouth

Trauma to the tooth/surrounding tissues

In addition to the pain around the tooth, symptoms of a toothache might include a foul taste in the mouth, fever, and/or swelling around the tooth.

What To Do

If you are experiencing tooth pain, the first thing you should do is make an appointment with your dentist. Depending on the reason for the pain, our dentists at Deer Valley Dental Care in South East Calgary may either tell you to come into our office straight away for treatment, or make an appointment with you as soon as possible. Alternatively, you can walk in. Our dentist office in Calgary is open 7 days a week, even on Sundays. We accept emergency dental appointments from 7 am to 9pm Monday through Friday, and we’re open 9 am to 5pm on Saturdays, and 11am to 4pm on Sundays.

For example, if you have experienced trauma to the tooth that has caused it to loosen or break, or if you are in severe pain that you can’t manage yourself, we will make room for you in our schedule immediately for emergency dental treatment.

If your case is less severe, please try the following to manage your discomfort until the time comes for your appointment:

Take over-the-counter pain medication

Rinse your mouth with salt water

Put an icepack beside your check to numb the area and reduce inflammation

Keep a record of your pain

Keep your teeth clean

If you have a broken tooth, put a piece of gauze over the jagged edge of the tooth